A Lover's Fine Eye by Lyndsay Constable Published by Quills & Quartos Publishing on May 27, 2023
Genres: Historical Mystery
Pages: 176
Format: eBook
Source: Purchased
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Miss Georgiana Darcy is thrilled to be attending the event of the season... until she is accused of theft. Despite her resentment of him, Miss Elizabeth Bennet works with Mr Fitzwilliam Darcy to uncover the true culprit and save the reputation of her friend from ruin. In order to succeed, Elizabeth will have to overcome her pride, misunderstandings, and her growing love for Mr Darcy. A Lover's Fine Eye is a Pride and Prejudice variation novella with humour, mystery, a little steam and a happy ending.
A sidelined journey, a London encounter, a mysterious eye necklace, a jewel heist, and second chances all around in this engaging blend of mystery and romance in a variation of Jane Austen’s Pride & Prejudice. Lyndsay Constable writes a fun romantic caper that read swiftly, but was thoroughly captivating.
A Lover’s Fine Eye is a long novella jumps into the P&P story about the time Jane Austen transitioned her story to a new setting. Instead of going into Kent, Elizabeth and her traveling companions stop in London due to illness along the journey. At this point, Elizabeth encounters Miss Darcy a sweet, shy young lady and they strike up a friendship. Elizabeth is well aware Miss Darcy’s brother is the man she has villainized with the help of lies from a smarmy charmer. But, even she, prejudiced against him as she is, has to admit he’s not much like the man she had built up in her mind and all that Wickham said about him and his sister isn’t adding up. Could she have gotten him wrong?
Then a series of odd circumstances during a treasure hunt game culminating in an accusation of theft during a high society ball put blame on Georgiana Darcy and Elizabeth is determined to partner Mr. Darcy in his detective efforts to get at the truth to save his sister’s reputation and clear her of the accusation.
I love a good historical mystery and it was satisfying to have it meshed with a romance that is a softened enemies to lovers-style with all the enemy part on Elizabeth’s end. It was fun to see her slowly learn the truth about Darcy even as they were hot on the trail of a thief. Interesting that a unique piece of jewelry, a lover’s eye painting, was the catalyst that set the partners in detection and romance together.
All in all, this was a fast read, but fully fleshed out blend of history, mystery, and sweet romance. Whether one has read P&P or not, A Lover’s Fine Eye can be appreciated quite easily and I recommend it.
Kindle freebie on July 5, 2024 (currently $3.99 at Amazon and in KindleUnlimited as of writing this post)
Overall rating 4.19 with 278 ratings and 34 reviews
As a lifelong reader, it was inevitable that Sophia would discover book blogs and the joy of blog reviewing.Sophia is a prolific reader and audiobook listener which allows her to experience so many wonderful books, authors, and narrators.Few genres are outside her reading tastes, but her true love is fiction particularly history, mystery, sci-fi, and romance.Though, sorry, no horror or she will run like Shaggy and Scooby.
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Sounds like a fun read!
Happy New Year’s, Victoria! It really was a blast to read it.
Well this sounds like a lot of fun! I love these different versions and retellings of P&P. Wishing you a very Happy New Year! 😀
Oh yes, it was a fun one to pull down from the shelf.
Happy New Year, Lark!
I’m glad you found this enjoyable freebie. I really do need to read the original someday.
Always glad to try the freebies, but even better when they are so good.
Yes, one of these days for P&P. 🙂 I’ve got several classics on my list to try still.
I have not read P&P so it’s good to know I could read this without having read that first.
Yes, its very versatile that way. If you want a historical cozy mystery with some romance, it will work just as well as for someone wanting a P&P variation story.
Sounds like a fun P&P mystery! Love that it’s available on KU. Will have to check it out!
Yes, it was a romance with a good side of mystery. I found the historical art element about the lover’s eye portraits interesting.
Love the cover! And this year I’ve GOT to get more of my freebies read. Great review!
It is an eye-catcher! I want to keep working at my freebie stack, too.
Adding to my TBR. Might read this for a couple of challenges 😉
Oh good, glad it will suit a few different challenges all in one. Love when books do that.